Worcester

Worcester's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 99,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Worcester increased by 5.8%, from just under 93,400 to 98,800.

The addition of about 5,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Worcester was home to, on average, 21 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Worcester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Worcester increased by one year, from 36 to 37 years.

This urban area had a lower average age than the West Midlands and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 2,600 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 15% of people in Worcester are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Worcester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Worcester

Worcester saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over one in three (37%) people aged 16 and over in Worcester said they were single, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 51% to 45%.

Across the region, Stoke-on-Trent saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 30% in 2001 to 36% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 29% to 34%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Worcester residents that were studying increased from 3.0% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of Worcester residents that were unemployed increased from 2.8% to 4.2%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Worcester increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Worcester, the West Midlands and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

Worcester saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just over one in six (18%) households in Worcester rented privately, compared with 9.2% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes remained close to 15%.

Across the region, only Coventry (from 10% to 21%) and Birmingham (from 8.8% to 18%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of privately rented homes, as the regional average grew from 7.3% to 14%.

Private renting in Worcester increased by 9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Worcester, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Worcester saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Worcester had a single parent, compared with 8.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 38% to 33%.

Across the region, only Wolverhampton (from 12% to 14%) and Coventry (from 12% to 14%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Worcester

The number of people in Worcester that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 13,000 in 2001 to just over 25,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Worcester that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 72,000 in 2001 to about 63,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 6,700 to just over 6,500 (from 7.2% to 6.6%).

About 2,800 people (1.8%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 1,700 in 2001 (2.9%).

The population without a religion in Worcester increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Worcester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Worcester

The percentage of Worcester residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.5%, while the percentage of Worcester residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Worcester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.8% to 4.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Worcester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Worcester decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Worcester, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Worcester

The number of people in Worcester from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 90,000 in 2001 to about 92,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 97% to 93%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Worcester from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 2,100 in 2001 to just under 4,400 in 2011 (from 2.3% to 4.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 650 to just under 1,400 (from 0.7% to 1.4%).

About 470 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just under 260 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Worcester decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Worcester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Worcester working less than 16 hours increased from 1.8% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Worcester increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Worcester, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Worcester with children decreased from 30% to 29% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (63%) households had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage of households in Worcester with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.5% to 8.6%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 31% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Worcester residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.1% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Worcester remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Worcester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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